TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 98, 24 April 1873, Page 2

TELEGRAPHIC INTELLIGENCE.

[Per Anglo-Australian Pbess Telegraph Agency], PROVINCIAL* MR FOX'S ADDRESS TO BIS CONSTITUENTS. Wellington, April 23. Mr Fox addressed his constituents at Bull's last night. He reviewed the position of the colony since 1868-69, wbeD Mr Stafford held office without a working majority, and was only saved by tbe casting vote of the Speaker. The East and West Coasts of the North Island were then steeped in war, settlement being impossible, and the whole colony was in a state of stagnation. The Eox Government altered all that, made peace with the bulk of the natives, and rendered Te Kooti powerless. They pushed roads into the interior, and, by the aid of Mr M'Lean, brought the Maoris to their present friendly disposition. Thfy are now selling land, thus enabling colonisation to progress rapidly. After quelling the disturbances, the Government set about lifting the colony out of the " slough of despond," by aid of Mr Vogel's Public Works and Immigration scheme. Mr Vogel was undoubtedly the parent of that scheme, and had worked up its details. He (Mr Fox) said that Sir David Monro's remarks about the colony not wanting railways were in keeping with the Nelson " stick-in-the-mud" policy, -which had left it as it was, a " Sleepy Hollow." E e contended that railways that might not at first pay expenses, might indirectly be a source of great national prosperity. He said that Mr Stafford was too wise to endorse Sir D. Monro's opinion, but 'took another view, and advocated the scheme while condemning the originators and its administration. He denied that Mr Stafford ever gave any sign of a desire to initiate such a scheme, beyond calling for a return of the number of persons drowned in the Kew Zealand rivers, which, he said, ought to be bridged from Auckland to Dunedin. He contended that the deieat of his Government was unfair, as the witnesses were also jurors, and were anxious to scramble into office themselves, while many of them were totally unfit to form an opinion on public works or their administration. Four professional members were unanimous in extolling its administration. Mr Brogden was not improperly foisted on the country, as Mr Vogel had authority under the Public Works Act to enter into the only agreement he made without the endorsement of the House. Mr Brogden's presence in New Zealand had been a great boon to'the colony. He had not been favoied by the Government in any way. The Rangitikei line would have beeu commenced ere this had Messrs. Bryce and Johnstone assisted him instead of turning him out of office. It would now be commenced shortly. Although Webb's line had proved a failure, another would soon Jake its place. The money paid was not all loss, as most of it saved the expense of the Suez route. He said that the Government were entitled to ( great credit for the introduction of the Land Transfer Act, the Public Trusts, and the Insurance Acts. He regretted that difficulties existed in the way ot the Educa-' tion Act, which was not likely to be pasfed for some years. The Provinces must now now fight it out. He said that the telegraph case had shown the reckless way in which members of his Government had been assailed. The verdict of the committee was a proof of the falseness of the accusations. He referred to the action of " independent members," and said they were both mischievous and conceited. Men -ought to have minds of their own, and take a decided part on one side or the other, instead of sitting on a rail until the division bell was about to ring. He referred to Mr. Stafford's defeat and the Waterhouse fiasco, and said that if the policy of the Government were carried out, a great future was before the colony. Peace was the watchword of true progress, and Mr. McLean was the man to maintain it. , An unanimous vote of confidence was carried by acclamation. ' * April 24. By the last mail a dispatch dated January 31, was received from Earl Kimberley, declining to advise the Queen to grant letters patent to both the Otago and New Zealand Universities, so as to make degrees granted by those Universities to be recognised throughout the Empire. He desires the Assembly and the people generally to express their views 'regarding one University, upon which the privilege shall be conferred, and deprecates its being granted to two institutions, as likely to deteriorate the value of the degrees, and as being beyond the requirements of the country. He suggests a National University . Reefton, April 24. Anderson's Creek Company cleared up last night; from 600 tons of stone 913 ounces of retorted gold were obtained. The Mining Conference meets to-day. It is rumored that the claimholders are to petition the National Bank to open a branch at Reefton. Building has been commenced on the site of the late fire. Geahamstown April 24. More specimens from the Golden Crown. A native policeman has been sent -to expel European prospectors. Auckland, April 24. failed : Patterson for South. The Star denies that Mr Gray goes home as mail agent, but says, that he goes .pon six months leave owing to sickness. •; The Herald complains of the Press Association not supplying Mr Fox's speech, and acknowledges it from this Agency. • A traveller in the King's country, between Taupo and Cambridge, reports having met witb a, kindly receptioj*, though it was unsafe owing to the prowling, armed, of aparty bf twenty Purukuas.who were threatening the lives of the .'Europeans'.' -.-.77 j,: ;;.'--'■. . ' . The prospectors at r Tuhua were opposed, but .they avoided the Natives and went into the bush. They found .uo rich -quartz^ but several reefs, ■with traces of gold in every jgully they tested,

The traveller thinks that the prospectors' lives are endangered. Dunedin, April 24. Mr Donald Reid addressed his constituent's^ at Taieri last night. In referring to the formation of a new Government by Mr Stafford, he said had Mr Stafford bid for certain Maori votes as others had done, he might have retained office. The Government of which he (Mr Reid) was a member, considered it wiser and more prudent to push on the- completion of the railways that had been already commenced, than to loiter on too many lines at once. The present Government proceeding was a violation of the understanding on the faith ,of which the loans were obtained, — that the money borrowed should be expended on reproductive -works, and that the interest should be paid out of the revenue instead of the capital. He hoped the day was not far distant when there would be a party in power with a higher aim than rhe construction of railways, in some instances to secure votes. Over one hundred and fifty electors were present, and a vote of thanks and confidence in Mr Reid was carried unanimously.